Chevelle, Starset, and Kami Kehoe Set the Stage for Benjamin Burnley’s South Florida Hard Rock Blowout – Photos and Review of the Breaking Benjamin Concert at the iThink Financial Amphitheater in West Palm Beach, FL

Perfect weather helped cap off the last show of the season at the iThink Financial Amphitheater as the venue played host to a formidable quadruple bill of hard rock on Tuesday night with a lineup that promised a deep dive into the heavier side of alternative music. With a stacked card featuring rising artist Kami Kehoe, the cinematic Starset, the reliably aggressive Chevelle, and of course headliners Breaking Benjamin leading the charge, the evening was a marathon of roaring guitars and pounding drums that delivered on its promise of a full-throttle rock experience from the first note to the final encore.

Kami Kehoe opened the evening, tasked with the daunting challenge of warming up the crowd as the sun began to set over the amphitheater. As a fast-rising rock artist, Kehoe brought a fresh dose of modern rock energy to the stage, setting the tone for the night with a performance that was both confident and unapologetically loud. Despite some early audio difficulties which were quickly resolved, her set was a potent reminder that the next wave of rock talent is already here, delivering a short but impactful burst of intensity that primed the audience for the heavier acts to follow. While the venue was still filling in, those who arrived early were treated to a spirited opening act that left no doubt about the volume and vigor that would define the rest of the night.

Following Kehoe was Starset, a band best known for their distinctly atmospheric and cinematic take on the modern hard rock genre. Their performance was a full-on aural and ocular sensory experience, layering heavy drums, seismic guitars with electronic textures and a visual production that felt larger than life. Dressed in post-apocalyptic space suits and lead singer Dustin Bates clad as what can best be described as a futuristic Sauron, the band evoked comparisons to other “masked metal” bands like Ghost and Slipknot but quickly showed they’re not just another carbon copy. The band created an immersive wall of sound that contrasted with the more straightforward aggression of the other acts on the bill. Songs like the newly released “p a r a d 0 x 1 c” were delivered with a space-bound grandeur, pulling the crowd into their dystopian, sci-fi-inspired world and proving why they have earned a reputation as one of the most compelling live acts in modern rock.

As the direct support, Chevelle took the stage with a formidable presence, bringing their aggressive, riff-driven sound to the forefront. The Illinois trio leaned heavily on their signature blend of Tool-esque vocal melodies and Helmet-inspired, driving riffs, and their set was a relentless barrage of heavy grooves and soaring choruses, a reminder of why they have remained a staple of the hard rock scene for decades. The crowd, now fully engaged, responded with roaring approval to the band’s tight, punishing rhythm section and Pete Loeffler’s searing vocals. With a brand new album in tow, Chevelle mixed new material from “Bright as Blasphemy” with classic hits like “The Red” and “Send the Pain Below“, their performance serving as a powerful bridge between the atmospheric build of Starset and the anthemic payoff of the headliners. 

Finally, preceded by a hilarious “Limewire” skit played on the LED’s behind them, Breaking Benjamin emerged from the shadows to a roaring welcome, closing out the night with a setlist that was absolutely phenomenal. The Pennsylvania band, led by Benjamin Burnley, delivered exactly what the audience had been waiting for: a career-spanning, hit-heavy performance that showcased their signature blend of post-grunge melancholy and metallic crunch. The set was a treasure trove for longtime fans, kicking off with “I Will Not Bow” and weaving through favorites like “Until the End”, “Evil Angel”, “Crawl”, and “Red Cold River”. The middle of the set brought a powerful run of “So Cold”, “Polyamorous”, and “Dear Agony”, before the band unleashed a string of undeniable anthems including “Breath”, “Failure”, “Dance With the Devil” and the inevitable, crowd-unifying closer “The Diary of Jane”. Burnley’s vocals were in top form, and the band’s performance was tight and emotionally powerful, proving that after all these years, Breaking Benjamin still remains a force to be reckoned with on the live stage.